Indiana Online Sportsbooks – Making the Best Choice

As of mid-summer 2019, Indiana online sports betting is still in its infancy. The law only recently changed, allowing for legal online sports betting in Indiana. However, we expect to see the market explode with plenty of options in time for the NFL season!

Plus, sportsbooks in other states are raking in hundreds of thousands of dollars for state and local economies, and Indiana should be no different.

Usually, existing land-based casinos are first movers for online sports betting. With that in mind, here’s a list of IN casinos we expect to have a great online presence. Also, we’ve listed some online-only sportsbooks that have been doing solid business in other states. Famous names like DraftKings and FanDuel will surely come to IN in no time.

Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg

The Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg has an edge on other IN casinos. They already offer free online versions of their slots. That means they have the software in place to offer online betting. So, it wouldn’t be a stretch for them to add Indiana online sports betting.

French Lick Casino

In person, the French Lick hosts 1,000 slots and over 30 table games 24/7. Online, we’re looking forward to the French Lick Rewards program to extend to online play. This will mean you can earn credits towards discounted resort stays and more!

Plus, French Lick Casino is almost finished building their sportsbook. Naturally, they plan to open in time for NFL season in September. Additionally, we’re sure they’re pushing to launch online this year as well.

Tropicana Evansville

The Tropicana is a historic name in casinos. They’re already operating a great mobile app in other states, so Tropicana may be first out of the gate for IN sports betting.

Plus, the Trop Rewards program is known throughout the country for being one of the best ways to earn extra points for every dollar you bet!

DraftKings

DraftKings has been operating legal online sports betting in New Jersey with great success. Coming to Indiana would be a great thing for DraftKings and Hoosiers alike!

If and when DraftKings starts operating in Indiana, look forward to excellent deposit bonuses and special event promos!

FanDuel

Much like DraftKings, FanDuel is one of the most trusted and well-known fantasy sports apps. Additionally, FanDuel is a favorite sportsbook for betting on real sports in New Jersey. Honestly, it’s more than likely we’ll see FanDuel open up an online sportsbook in Indiana.

Indiana Online Sportsbooks Regulations

For a long time under the PASPA restrictions, IN sports betting was illegal. However, that law was overturned in 2018, and HB 1015 was recently just signed into law. There have been some tricky back-and-forths since then, particularly with bill SB 552, which we will explain later. Long story short– legal online sports betting will very soon come to Indiana!

The only legal betting on live events allowed in Indiana prior to HB 1015 was betting on horse racing. This only recently changed in Indiana gaming, so it’s going to take a bit of time for operators to get a working framework in place, hire web developers, etc.

In addition, the licensing fees are pretty steep for casinos and sportsbooks looking to operate in Indiana. There’s an initial $100,000 license fee, with a $50,000 annual fee. However, it could be worse. In states like New Jersey, the annual payment is $250,000!

When we do start seeing Indiana sportsbooks opening up, the online versions are soon to follow. Look for Tropicana and online-only operators like FanDuel and DraftKings to be first, as they already have app experience in other states.

The Indiana Gaming Commission oversees all gambling within the state. When a state legalizes online sports betting, the gaming commission is the first to assure that these apps and websites are both legal and fair. So, if you’re new to the world of legal online sports betting, know you’re in safe hands.

Indiana Mobile Betting

Indiana legislators juggled back and forth with whether or not the Indiana sports betting bill would include online betting. SB 552, a bill with language specifically in place to allow for both online and brick-and-mortar sports betting, had a complicated history.

SB 552 was fought for, approved, amended, and then re-emerged as HB 1015 with the allowance for mobile betting tucked into section 36. Some representatives didn’t appreciate this re-adding of SB 552’s provision for online sports betting, but still, the bill (as HB 1015) passed in 2019. Indiana online sports betting is legal!

Indiana Online Sportsbooks in 2019 and 2020

As stated before, Indiana sportsbooks (both online and in-person) are more of an idea than a reality at this point. However, everything is in place on the legal end, and it’s up to operators to get their act together and start releasing legal online sports betting apps and opening up brick-and-mortar locations in Indiana. Be sure that when that does happen, we’ll have all the most up-to-date information on the best apps, the best promotions, and more!